Alhierd Bacharevič


Alhierd Bacharevič is a Belarusian writer and translator. Born Oleg Ivanovich Bacharevič, he adopted his nom-de-plume in his first literary publications in 1993.
In 1997 he graduated from the Philological Faculty of the Belarusian Pedagogical University in Minsk. Afterward, Bacharevič worked as a teacher of Belarusian and then as a journalist. His first texts were published in 1993. In the 1990s, he was one of the founders of the Belarusian literary and artistic avantgarde group Bum-Bam-Lit. In 1998, this group published the now cult anthology of their poetry, namely, Tazik biełaruski. At that time Bacharevič married Ksienija Brečka. They have one daughter, Uljana. Between 2007 and 2013, Bacharevič lived in Hamburg, Germany. In 2013, he returned to Minsk and married the Belarusian translator and poet, Julia Cimafiejeva. They lived in the Belarusian capital and cooperated in the field of Belarusian literature and culture, until the 2020 Belarusian protests. Subsequently, in order to avoid persecution, the couple of authors chose emigration and left for Austria.
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Writing career

Alhierd Bacharevič is the leading Belarusian-language author of novels, including the novels Magpie on the Gallows, and Šabany: The Story of One Disappearance, Alindarka’s Children, or White Fly, Murderer of Men. The publishing house Lohvinaŭ published an over 900-page novel in six parts Dogs of Europe, which is deemed to be the writer's opus magnum. The novel received in Belarus the Book of the Year award and was noted in Belarus with the independent Reader's Prize and the second Jerzy Gedroyc Prize. In 2019, the Moscow publishing house Vremia published the Russian translation of this novel.
The works by Alhierd Bacharevič were translated into English, French, German, Czech, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Slovene, Russian, Polish, Lithuanian. In 2008, a collection by Alhierd Bacharevič's selected stories was translated into Polish "Talent do jąkania się". In 2010, in Leipzig, the novel Magpie on the Gallows was published in German in the translation by Thomas Weiler. In 2015, the story of Bakharevich The Talent of Stuttering was included in the anthology of the best European short prose "Best European Fiction". In 2017, the Small Medical Encyclopedia by Bacharevič was published in Polish in the Lublin Warsztaty Kultury publishing house. In 2018, the novel Children of Alindarki was published by the publishing house "Le ver a soie" in the French translation of Alena Lapatnoiva.
Alhierd Bacharevič translated the fairy tale The Cold Heart by Wilhelm Hauff, which was published at the end of 2009 under one cover with an independent work entitled The Translator's Afterword. Translated from the German language, individual works of the brothers Grimm, Franz Kafka, G. G. Evers, poems by Hans Enzensberger and other modern German poets and the novel by the modern German writer Kathrin Schmidt You will not die. He took part in the Berlin Literary Colloquium, the Theater Festival in Lublin, the Literary Festivals Vilenica, the Lesefest Osteuropa, The Month of Author Reading in Brno, international literary festivals in Sweden, Ukraine, Lithuania, Czech Republic and others. He has performed at international book fairs in Frankfurt, Leipzig, Warsaw, Lviv, Minsk. In 2014, he represented Belarus at the International European Writers Conference in Berlin.
In 2012, after the members' angry reaction to the publication of Alhierd Bacharevič's essay The Dark Past of Kajan Łupaka on Janka Kupała in 2011, he left the Union of Belarusian Writers. He had been a member of this Union since 2006. Bacharevič is a member of the Belarusian PEN Club.
In 2015, a performance was staged on the Small Stage of the Yanka Kupala State Theater based on the novel Šabany by Alhierd Bacharevič.
In mid-2020 Bacharevič resigned from continuing work on his new fantasy-cum-political fiction novel Сьвятая Кацярына Śviataja Kaciaryna, because unexpectedly the socio-political reality of the Belarusian pro-democracy Peaceful Revolution accelerated beyond the book's original plot. The novel coalesced around the arrival of a female etxraterrestrial on Earth and the revolution that she triggered. However, in the author's words, 'Mrs Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja fell from the sky to Minsk, so the manuscript was set aside,' because meanwhile, according to Bacharevič, a peaceful revolution commenced in Belarus. The novelist proposes that despite violent repressions this revolution still continues, directed against the 'regime of the fascist type.'
Following the Belarus's involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, on 2 March 2022, Bacharevič's open letter to the Ukrainians was published, in which he stated: 'I am prepared to take upon myself the shame and disgrace of Belarus for what is happening – in exactly the same way as German writers in the emigration did in the times of the Second World War'.
Due to his principled stance, the Belarusian regime's propagandists began to attack and denigrate Bacharevič in the pro-regime Belarusian press. On 17 May 2022, his novel Сабакі Эўропы Sabaki Eŭropy was banned in Belarus by placing it on the 'list of extremist material.' In mid-June 2022, the Belarusian Ministry of Education ordered the country's school libraries to be cleansed of the books by over 30 proscribed 'extremist' writers, including. In late July 2022, the authorities decided that the confiscated copies of Bacharevič's 'extremist' novel Сабакі Эўропы Sabaki Eŭropy would be destroyed by ploughing them by a tractor into a field. In March 2023, another book of Baharevich, Апошняя кніга пана А. Apošniaja kniha pana A. was included in the list of extremist materials.

Novels, volumes of short stories and essays

  • 2002 – Практычны дапаможнік па руйнаваньні гарадоў. Проза, 1997–2001 Praktyčny dapamožnik pa rujnavańni haradoŭ. Proza, 1997–2001 . St Petersburg: Run' and Vilnius: OOO Nevskii prostor.
  • 2003 – Натуральная афарбоўка. Раман і апавяданні Naturalnaja afarboŭka. Raman i apaviadanni . Miensk: Lohvinaŭ.
  • 2006 – Ніякай літасьці Валянціне Г. Апавяданні Nijakaj litaści Valiancinie H. Apaviadanni . Miensk: Lohvinaŭ.
  • 2008 – Праклятыя госьці сталіцы Prakliatyja hości stalicy . Miensk: Lohvinaŭ.
  • 2008 – Talent do jąkania się / Талент заіканьня . Wrocław: Kolegium Europy Wschodniej im. Jana Nowaka-Jeziorańskiego.
  • 2009 – Сарока на шыбеніцы Saroka na šybienicy . Miensk: Lohvinaŭ.
  • * German translation: Die Elster auf dem Galgen . 2010. Leipzig: Leipziger Literaturverlag.
  • * Polish translation: Sroka na szubienicy . 2021. Sejny: Pogranicze, 456pp.
  • 2009 – Introduction to and the Belarusian translation from the German of Халоднае сэрца: казка Chałodnaje serca: kazka by Вільгельм Гаўф Wilhelm Hauff. Miensk: Halijafy.
  • 2011 – Малая мэдычная энцыкляпэдыя Бахарэвіча Malaja medyčnaja encykliapedyja Bachareviča . Prague: Radyjo Svaboda.
  • * Polish translation: Mały leksykon medyczny według Bacharewicza . Lublin: Warsztaty Kultury.
  • 2012 – Шабаны. Гісторыя аднаго зьнікненьня Šabany. Historyja adnaho źniknieńnia . Miensk: Halijafy.
  • * Theater adaptation: Šabany. 2014. Miensk: Janka Kupała National Theatre.
  • 2012 – Гамбурскі рахунак Бахарэвіча Hamburski rachunak Bachareviča . Prague: Radyjo Svaboda and Miensk: Lohvinaŭ.
  • 2014 – Каляндар Бахарэвіча Kaliandar Bachareviča . Prague: Radyjo Svaboda.
  • 2014 – Ніякай літасьці Альгерду Б. Nijakaj litaści Alhierdu B. . Miensk: Halijafy.
  • 2014 – Дзеці Аліндаркі Dzieci Alindarki . Miensk: Halijafy.
  • * French translation: Les enfants d'Alendrier . 2018. Les Essarts-le-Roi: le Ver à soie-Virginie Symaniec éditrice.
  • * Scots-English translation: Alindarka's Children . 2020. Edinburgh: Scotland Street Press, 188pp..
  • * US edition: Alindarka's Children . 2022. New York: New Directions., 352pp.
  • *2nd edition: Дзеці Аліндаркі Dzieci Alindarki. 2024. Warsaw: Кнігаўка Knihaŭka., 252pp.
  • * Ukrainian translation: Діти Аліндарка Dity Alindarka . 2025. Kyiv: Видавничий дім «Стилос» Vydavnichyi dim «Stylos»., 292pp.
  • 2015 – Белая муха, забойца мужчын Biełaja mucha, zabojca mužčyn . Miensk: Halijafy.
  • * Russian translation: Белая муха, убийца мужчин Belaia mukha, ubiitsa muzhchin . 2017. Miensk: Halijafy.
  • 2016 – Бэзавы і чорны. Парыж праз акуляры беларускай літаратуры Bezavy i čorny. Paryž praz akuliary biełaruskaj litaratury . Miensk: Zimcier Kołas.
  • 2017 – Сабакі Эўропы Sabaki Eŭropy . Vilnius: Lohvinaŭ.
  • * Russian translation: Собаки Европы Sobaki Evropy . 2019. Moscow: Vremia.
  • * Theater adaptation : Belarus Free Theatre. 2019. Dogs of Europe
  • * Theater adaptation : Independent Theater Group Kupalaŭcy. 2022. Gęsi – ludzie – łabędzie . Lublin: Juliusz Osterwa Theater.
  • * 2nd edition. 2021. Miensk: A. M. Januškievič., 680pp.
  • * 3rd edition. 2022. Prague: Vesna / Viasna Books., 676pp.
  • * German translation: Europas Hunde . 2024. Berlin: Verlag Voland & Quist., 744pp.
  • * Сабакі Эўропы Sabaki Eŭropy . 2025. Беларускія аўдыякнігі. NB: Parts 1-3.
  • 2018 – Мае дзевяностыя Maje dzievianostyja . Miensk: A. M. Januškievič.
  • * 2nd edition, 2021, Miensk: A. M. Januškievič.
  • 2019 – Berlin, Paris und das Dorf. Essays . Berlin: edition.fotoTAPETA, 96 pp.
  • 2020 – Апошняя кніга пана А. Apošniaja kniha pana A. . Prague: Viasna and Miensk: A. M. Januškievič, 500pp. and
  • * Audiobook: Апошняя кніга пана А. Apošniaja kniha pana A. . 2022. Беларускія аўдыякнігі.
  • * German translation: Das letzte Buch von Herrn A. . 2023. Berlin: edition.fotoTAPETA., 464pp.
  • 2021 – Sie haben schon verloren. Revolution und Revolte in Belarus . Berlin: edition.fotoTAPETA, 70 pp.
  • 2021 – Плошча Перамогі Płošča Peramohi, 160 pp.
  • * Paper edition. 2023. Prague: Vesna / Viasna Books., 244pp.
  • * Audiobook: Плошча Перамогі Płošča Peramohi . 2024. Беларускія аўдыякнігі.
  • * Swedish translation: Segertorget . 2025. Stockholm: Ersatz., 160pp.
  • 2021 – Тэатр шчаслівых дзяцей Teatr ščaślivych dziaciej, 170 pp...
  • * Audiobook: Тэатр шчаслівых дзяцей Teatr ščaślivych dziaciej . 2024. Беларускія аўдыякнігі and Кніжны Воз.
  • 2022 – L'Art d'être bègue: Suivi d'autres textes sur le fascisme . Les Essarts-le-roi, France: Le ver à soie., 110pp.
  • 2023 – Хлопчык і снег Chłopčyk i śnieh . Warsaw: Knihaŭka., 240pp.
  • 2023 – Ператрус у музеі Pieratrus u muzei . Warsaw: Knihaŭka..
  • 2024 – Капітан Лятучая Рыба Kapitan Liatučaja Ryba . Warsaw: Januškievič., 376pp.
  • 2024 – Папяровы голем Papierovy Holem . Warsaw: Knihaŭka., 220pp.
  • * German translation: Golem aus Papier . 2025. Berlin: edition.fotoTAPETA., 144pp.
  • Forthcoming – Аўгуры Aŭhury

Poetry and short stories

  • 2019 Spomenik Običnom Čovjeku
  • 2022 Vieršy Вершы . Prague: Vydaviectva Viasna Выдавецтва Вясна., 142pp. NB: Each poem is given in Łacinka and Cyrillic.

Essays

  • 2020 Последнее слово детства. Фашизм как воспоминание Poslednee slovo detstva. Fashizm kak vospominanie . pen/opp: Swedish PEN: Freedom of Expression, Literature and Culture. 7 Dec.
  • * English translation: Fascism as Memory . 2020. pen/opp: Swedish PEN: Freedom of Expression, Literature and Culture. 7 Dec.
  • * German translation: Mit der Angst um den Hals . 2021. Dekoder. 5 Jan
  • * Swedish translation: Fascismen vi minns. 2020. pen/opp: Swedish PEN: Freedom of Expression, Literature and Culture. 7 Dec.
  • * Ukrainian translation: Останнє слово дитинства. Фашизм як спогад Ostannye slovo dytynstva. Fashyzm iak spohad . 2020. Український центр Міжнародного ПЕН-клубу/PEN Ukraine. 29 Dec.
  • 2021 Worte kommen immer zu spät . 2021. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. 28 May.
  • 2022 Fqinjët që nuk kanë qenë kurrë të tillë . 2022. Gazeta Express. 8 Jun

Bacharevič's Translations

  • 2009 – Халоднае сэрца: казка Chałodnaje serca: kazka by Вільгельм Гаўф Wilhelm Hauff. Miensk: BiełTonMedyja. NB: E-book & audiobook.. Translation of Wilhelm Hauff. Das kalte Herz.
  • 2011 – Ты не памрэш Ty nie pamreš . Miensk: Makbeł.. Translation of Kathrin Schmidt. Du stirbst nicht. Cologne: Kiepenheuer & Witsch.
  • 2013 – Казкі братоў Грымаў Kazki bratoŭ Hrymaŭ . Vilnius: Lohvinaŭ.
  • 2015 – Халоднае сэрца: казка Chałodnaje serca: kazka by Вільгельм Гаўф Wilhelm Hauff. Miensk: Knihazbor.. Translation of Wilhelm Hauff's Das kalte Herz.
  • 2017 – Белая муха, убийца мужчин Belaia mukha, ubiitsa muzhchin . Miensk: Halijafy.. Translation of Alhierd Bacharevič. Белая муха, забойца мужчын Biełaja mucha, zabojca mužčyn. Miensk: Halijafy.
  • 2018 – Што было б Što było b by Грэгар Зандэр Gregor Sander. Miensk: Lohvinau.. Translation of Georg Sander's Was gewesen wäre.
  • 2019 – Собаки Европы Sobaki Evropy . Moscow: Vremia.. Translation of Alhierd Bacharevič. Сабакі Эўропы Sabaki Eŭropy . Vilnius: Lohvinaŭ.

Awards

  • Winner of the 2002 award "Hliniany Viales", for the collection of stories Практычны дапаможнік па руйнаваньні гарадоў. Проза, 1997–2001 Praktyčny dapamožnik pa rujnavańni haradoŭ. Proza, 1997–2001
  • Winner of the "Book of the Year 2012: Jerzy Giedroyc Literary Award: Second Place", for the collection of essays Малая мэдычная энцыкляпэдыя Бахарэвіча Malaja medyčnaja encykliapedyja Bachareviča
  • Winner of the "Book of the Year 2013: Jerzy Giedroyc Literary Award: Second Place", for the collections of essays on Belarusian literature and writers Гамбурскі рахунак Бахарэвіча Hamburski rachunak Bachareviča
  • Winner of the Belarusian PEN Center's award "Book of the Year 2014", for the novel Дзеці Аліндаркі Dzieci Alindarki .
  • Winner of the "Book of the Year 2015: Jerzy Giedroyc Literary Award: Third Place", for the novel Дзеці Аліндаркі Dzieci Alindarki .
  • Winner of the Belarusian PEN Center's award "Book of the Year 2017", for the novel Сабакі Эўропы Sabaki Eŭropy
  • Winner of the award "Book of the Year 2018: Jerzy Giedroyc Literary Award: Second Place", for the novel Сабакі Эўропы Sabaki Eŭropy .
  • Readers' Prize for the novel Сабакі Эўропы Sabaki Eŭropy
  • Winner of the 34th Erwin-Piscator-Preis awarded for 'his powerful work as one of the most significant Belarusian writers, exploring the conditions of totalitarian rule in monumental novels and profound essays.'
  • Winner of the Leipzig Book Award for European Understanding

Creative writing fellowships

  • IHAG, 2006
  • German PEN Center, Writers in Exile Grant, 2008–2011
  • Heinrich Böll Foundation, 2011
  • Baltic Writers and Translators Center, Visby
  • Institut Français, Center International de Recollets, 2016
  • Literarisches Colloquium Berlin, 2018
  • "Writer in Exile"-Programm, City of Graz, Internationales Haus der Autorinnen und Autoren Graz, Kulturvermittlung Steiermark. 2020–2021, prolonged until December 2022, under the aegis of the Kaffeehausliteratur-Stipendium.

Facts

In the 1990s he was the founder and vocalist of the first Belarusian-language punk band Правакацыя.
In March 2022 Bacharevič publicly expressed his opinion about the Russian invasion in Ukraine and declared that “we have the same enemy: the Belarusians, the Ukrainians, the Lithuanians, and even the Russians. And this enemy is Putin's empire, Putinism, Putin's fascism!”.
As of 2023, Bacharevič remains in exile in Switzerland.